Congrats on the Tech and good luck with the General. I've been a Tech for 21 years and started studying for the General this past winter after picking up an Icom IC-7100 but have yet to take the test. I'll follow through with it in the next several moths but Bob sure is right about keeping the boulder rolling.
On the antennas, I'd avoid a glass mount in the car if you can, especially if it's a newer model. I've used them a few times and it's been hit or miss. On my most recent install on a '13 Honda Ridgeline, the performance with the glass mount was terrible. I switched it out to a hard-wired antenna and the difference was night and day, and I'm sure I was suffering with poor performance in my previous trucks as well and didn't even know it. I put up a Diamond 2m/70cm/6m vertical on the *edit* house roof last month and am pleased with the performance. You might consider a 2m/70cm vertical as well. Relatively inexpensive, fairly simple install, not an eyesore.
Last, keep 146.52 in your scan rotation both at home and while mobile. It's quiet 99.9% of the time but once in a while you'll hear someone throw their call out and it's always good to answer back. Goes both ways, too - don't be afraid to put your call out there when driving through cities and towns. That's what it's all about!
